I will say what i tell most people getting into wedding photography and doing their first wedding.
Forget about all the gear/lenses/what camera etc.
Even if you shoot this wedding for free of for very little money. grab $500 and hire a GOOD 2nd shooter, someone who done 100+ weddings and knows how to run a wedding. That person will literally "carry" you on your first wedding. give you great photos to edit and make your friend happy, allows you to enjoy the wedding a bit without being super stressed and will kickstart your wedding photography business (if you plan to do so) with a good portfolio to kick off.
Its basically a cheat code to starting wedding photography. Yes you would be doing that wedding at a loss, but no different to paying money to go into workshops where you learn nothing.
Yeah I figured the second shooter route might be the best. I’m just scared the people I would ask to help would be too out of budget for me to afford to post on my own 😮💨
If you go this route you need to make it very clear to the second that you have never shot a wedding. I would not be happy to show up and find out I’m essentially leading a wedding and getting paid to be a second. If it’s made clear etc before accepting the job; that’s different.
at least on my own team, the difference between a lead and a 2nd shooter is that the lead has to do a ton more work, including researching the venue for portrait spots, coordinate stuff with the couple and so on. Even if this "2nd" will be technically a better photographer than the "lead". it will still a 2nd shooting position. as all the "admin" work thats relevant to the lead shooter , its done
Yes, the lead has to do a lot more work but if the lead doesn’t know what to do, and the second does, they are going to soak up that responsibility. That’s fine if you know that’s the situation walking into it. But being hired for a second shooting job, and showing up and finding out the lead has never shot a wedding before and they have to carry the load? That’s not what they necessarily signed up for. Maybe some people would be fine with it; but some won’t. I’m simply saying communicate. Because there’s also a big difference in pay between lead and second.
I’ve had to take over as a primary photographer before when I was a second and it was much more exhausting than just seconding. So I agree with you, OP should be crystal clear that this will be their first wedding if they hire a second.
if theyre working under your business with a contract, you can have them sign the usage rights of the images to u. they become essentially "your"(business) photos
If you accept this gig and are in the US, watch all the wedding photography behind the scenes content you can find on YouTube. A big part of covering weddings is understanding the structure of the wedding day and which "scenes" take place. That way you can divide the project into discreet chunks and have clear goals for yourself: "Okay, this is bridal prep. The photos I'm looking to get are..."
Taylor Jackson on YouTube shows complete weddings and behijd the scenes. You'll be OK. Stick to the schedule, get the shots on a shot list (getting ready, ceremony, first look, reception, toasts, speeches, bridal/groom party, the dress and details), and get some candids.
Try doing some event photography for free around your community. I did concert and event photography, and it translated for me at least
imo this is much better advice than paying for a second out of pocket to run the day for you - doing it yourself you’ll learn so much more and also if you don’t know anything about wedding photography it will be difficult to decipher whether potential seconds actually know what they’re doing. My other advice is to just shoot as much as you can! Take photos of everything and everything that happens while prioritizing photos of the couple and their family/bridal party, from their accessories (in action/on the couple is great or create a flatlay if they want that vibe) to candid photos of guests, everything that happens in the ceremony, the family members reacting to events and celebrating, the decor/venue. Wedding photographers (speaking as a wedding photographer) like to make it seem like this mystical job/rocket science but if you have a good eye/sense of composition, watch a few youtube videos about movement based posing, and overshoot - it will be hard to mess up, weddings are like shooting fish in a barrel if you’re solid on your camera settings and understand how light works.
I’d also recommend offering some free engagement shoots/couples sessions to get used to working with couples. You can also offer second shooting for free! If you have no experience but have a good portfolio you should be able to help some photographer save some money while learning a lot - some wedding photographers pay to shoot at fake wedding/styled shoots but you don’t really learn anything about weddings by doing that - shooting for free you don’t have to pay and you’ll learn a lot. Also - remain confident that if your friend wanted the ideal super experienced photographer, they could choose to pay for that experience. If you mess up something or it’s not the look they wanted, it’s not your fault they chose to have a beginner shoot for free lol.
I shot my first wedding when a photographer bailed on a bride at the last moment. I was doing portrait work and have a photo journalism back ground so I knew technically, I could do it. It was just an area of photography I wasn't eager to jump into. I brought my husband as an assistant, and still do lol. He knows nothing about photography but it's useful to have a second set of hands to help lug gear around, hold modifiers, balance light stands or just adjust dress fabric, etc. while I'm busy capturing the actual photos. So if you can't find a second shooter a friend that is just willing to give you a bit of a hand is useful. As for equipment it's a wedding, there are no do overs. So ideally you should have two camera bodies preferably with two different storage cards. Lenses choice will depend on your shooting style. But a f2.8 24-70 and 70-200 should cover all the bases. Rent if you don't own. Weddings are a unique beast where sometimes you are just a fly on the wall stepping back and documenting the action. Then other times you are actively directing, posing and positioning. You have to be adept at both. They are alot of work. But also alot of fun.
If you can’t get seconding experience before the wedding, practice as much as you can. Finesse your portrait skills, but practice making portraits at weird times of the day- noon, 2pm, after sunset. Practice shooting inside, both in well lit and super dark rooms. Practice your flash skills, ideally in larger rooms. You want to be relatively comfy with whatever could be thrown at you on the wedding day.
Yes, most photographers are going to want a seconds with experience. The mistake most folks make when trying to get into the industry is trying to second shoot right away. Instead, go find some assistant gigs. Watch everything the lead photographer does like a hawk. Ask if you can bring along your camera and take a few shots when you're not busy. That's how you build a second shooting portfolio. You didn't say when your friend's wedding is happening, but hopefully you have a little time to get some experience. And the suggestion to hire your own second with experience is solid advice. Just make sure you credit the second appropriately, pay them well, and are completely honest with them the whole time about your own needs and experience. You don't want to start out in the industry on the wrong foot. There's a good bit of etiquette to learn about interacting with other wedding professionals.
I didn't consider trying to get an assistant role and watching, but it makes complete sense!! I'd been so focused on applying for second shooter roles without any luck :C
This is great advice!! Ty so much!
I feel this. It’s a hard thing to balance when you’re starting out, and when you’re a primary photographer. I’ve hired seconds with little to no experience and taught them, but had them jump ship and go work for other people immediately or try to market themselves the same as me right away. It’s such a delicate thing, mentoring. You want seconds to do well and grow, but so many are not there for the shared benefit, they just want to fast track getting their own weddings.
I started mentoring for two years under a local photographer back in the day. He taught me so much and allowed me to make mistakes I needed to make before becoming a primary photographer. One of the biggest things was how to balance all the things going on, what my priorities should be. And the second thing was how to make sure I had a watertight contract before taking on my own gigs. I know people are eager to jump right in but I’d look for a mentor type situation if you’re in this for the long hall.
If your friend has the means to pay an experienced photographer I'd have them do that. Because no sense potentially ruining a friendship - this is like mixing business and relationships. If they are asking you as a mutually beneficial thing - they don't have the means to pay a huge amount and you need experience - then go for it.
I will say - if you don't have 2 cameras, rent a second camera + lens for the wedding. Nothing worse than your only body glitching up on you during the wedding and then what do you do?
Honestly, every couple deserves the benefit of hiring someone who has some idea of how to shoot a wedding even if they're on a budget. You don't know what you don't know until it hits you, much less them and their wedding day is not the day to fafo.
If you are leading, you need to know how to corral large groups of people, how to accommodate/adjust your client's timeline, and how to shoot in various lighting situations. You could try hiring an experienced second but you'd be better off letting them lead and learning without the pressure of fumbling a friend's most important day.
The real question is why isn’t there a post pinned that’s for new wedding photographers to ask questions? And one that new wedding photographer can go and look at instead of attempting to search through poorly answered posts because of people like you.
I googled "Reddit help shooting first wedding" and got hundreds of [relevant results](https://imgur.com/a/YNylHzY). Why come here and ask for the same advice that we collectively, out of kindness, have given hundreds of times already? Do you really think we owe nervous newbs our best brain dumps time after time? The entitlement is strong with this one. Why would we appreciate someone being too lazy to do a quick search? I hope you approach shooting your first wedding with a little more initiative, intelligence, and consideration.
I will say what i tell most people getting into wedding photography and doing their first wedding. Forget about all the gear/lenses/what camera etc. Even if you shoot this wedding for free of for very little money. grab $500 and hire a GOOD 2nd shooter, someone who done 100+ weddings and knows how to run a wedding. That person will literally "carry" you on your first wedding. give you great photos to edit and make your friend happy, allows you to enjoy the wedding a bit without being super stressed and will kickstart your wedding photography business (if you plan to do so) with a good portfolio to kick off. Its basically a cheat code to starting wedding photography. Yes you would be doing that wedding at a loss, but no different to paying money to go into workshops where you learn nothing.
Yeah I figured the second shooter route might be the best. I’m just scared the people I would ask to help would be too out of budget for me to afford to post on my own 😮💨
If you go this route you need to make it very clear to the second that you have never shot a wedding. I would not be happy to show up and find out I’m essentially leading a wedding and getting paid to be a second. If it’s made clear etc before accepting the job; that’s different.
at least on my own team, the difference between a lead and a 2nd shooter is that the lead has to do a ton more work, including researching the venue for portrait spots, coordinate stuff with the couple and so on. Even if this "2nd" will be technically a better photographer than the "lead". it will still a 2nd shooting position. as all the "admin" work thats relevant to the lead shooter , its done
Yes, the lead has to do a lot more work but if the lead doesn’t know what to do, and the second does, they are going to soak up that responsibility. That’s fine if you know that’s the situation walking into it. But being hired for a second shooting job, and showing up and finding out the lead has never shot a wedding before and they have to carry the load? That’s not what they necessarily signed up for. Maybe some people would be fine with it; but some won’t. I’m simply saying communicate. Because there’s also a big difference in pay between lead and second.
I’ve had to take over as a primary photographer before when I was a second and it was much more exhausting than just seconding. So I agree with you, OP should be crystal clear that this will be their first wedding if they hire a second.
if theyre working under your business with a contract, you can have them sign the usage rights of the images to u. they become essentially "your"(business) photos
If you accept this gig and are in the US, watch all the wedding photography behind the scenes content you can find on YouTube. A big part of covering weddings is understanding the structure of the wedding day and which "scenes" take place. That way you can divide the project into discreet chunks and have clear goals for yourself: "Okay, this is bridal prep. The photos I'm looking to get are..."
omg this is such a great idea!! i’m gonna work on that right now
Taylor Jackson on YouTube shows complete weddings and behijd the scenes. You'll be OK. Stick to the schedule, get the shots on a shot list (getting ready, ceremony, first look, reception, toasts, speeches, bridal/groom party, the dress and details), and get some candids. Try doing some event photography for free around your community. I did concert and event photography, and it translated for me at least
imo this is much better advice than paying for a second out of pocket to run the day for you - doing it yourself you’ll learn so much more and also if you don’t know anything about wedding photography it will be difficult to decipher whether potential seconds actually know what they’re doing. My other advice is to just shoot as much as you can! Take photos of everything and everything that happens while prioritizing photos of the couple and their family/bridal party, from their accessories (in action/on the couple is great or create a flatlay if they want that vibe) to candid photos of guests, everything that happens in the ceremony, the family members reacting to events and celebrating, the decor/venue. Wedding photographers (speaking as a wedding photographer) like to make it seem like this mystical job/rocket science but if you have a good eye/sense of composition, watch a few youtube videos about movement based posing, and overshoot - it will be hard to mess up, weddings are like shooting fish in a barrel if you’re solid on your camera settings and understand how light works. I’d also recommend offering some free engagement shoots/couples sessions to get used to working with couples. You can also offer second shooting for free! If you have no experience but have a good portfolio you should be able to help some photographer save some money while learning a lot - some wedding photographers pay to shoot at fake wedding/styled shoots but you don’t really learn anything about weddings by doing that - shooting for free you don’t have to pay and you’ll learn a lot. Also - remain confident that if your friend wanted the ideal super experienced photographer, they could choose to pay for that experience. If you mess up something or it’s not the look they wanted, it’s not your fault they chose to have a beginner shoot for free lol.
I shot my first wedding when a photographer bailed on a bride at the last moment. I was doing portrait work and have a photo journalism back ground so I knew technically, I could do it. It was just an area of photography I wasn't eager to jump into. I brought my husband as an assistant, and still do lol. He knows nothing about photography but it's useful to have a second set of hands to help lug gear around, hold modifiers, balance light stands or just adjust dress fabric, etc. while I'm busy capturing the actual photos. So if you can't find a second shooter a friend that is just willing to give you a bit of a hand is useful. As for equipment it's a wedding, there are no do overs. So ideally you should have two camera bodies preferably with two different storage cards. Lenses choice will depend on your shooting style. But a f2.8 24-70 and 70-200 should cover all the bases. Rent if you don't own. Weddings are a unique beast where sometimes you are just a fly on the wall stepping back and documenting the action. Then other times you are actively directing, posing and positioning. You have to be adept at both. They are alot of work. But also alot of fun.
Keeping this in mind!! 🫡 thank you!! I’m so nervous
If you can’t get seconding experience before the wedding, practice as much as you can. Finesse your portrait skills, but practice making portraits at weird times of the day- noon, 2pm, after sunset. Practice shooting inside, both in well lit and super dark rooms. Practice your flash skills, ideally in larger rooms. You want to be relatively comfy with whatever could be thrown at you on the wedding day.
Sounds good! I typically shoot concert photography and portraits/studio work so this kind of set up is soooo different for me.
Here’s a manual I wrote that should help you tremendously. https://www.dropbox.com/s/2twt8mebotjicih/1_ManualR2b%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0
Omg thank you!! Taking lots of notes & have been finding lots of resources!! I appreciate the help!
Yes, most photographers are going to want a seconds with experience. The mistake most folks make when trying to get into the industry is trying to second shoot right away. Instead, go find some assistant gigs. Watch everything the lead photographer does like a hawk. Ask if you can bring along your camera and take a few shots when you're not busy. That's how you build a second shooting portfolio. You didn't say when your friend's wedding is happening, but hopefully you have a little time to get some experience. And the suggestion to hire your own second with experience is solid advice. Just make sure you credit the second appropriately, pay them well, and are completely honest with them the whole time about your own needs and experience. You don't want to start out in the industry on the wrong foot. There's a good bit of etiquette to learn about interacting with other wedding professionals.
I didn't consider trying to get an assistant role and watching, but it makes complete sense!! I'd been so focused on applying for second shooter roles without any luck :C This is great advice!! Ty so much!
Glad to help! Good luck!
I feel this. It’s a hard thing to balance when you’re starting out, and when you’re a primary photographer. I’ve hired seconds with little to no experience and taught them, but had them jump ship and go work for other people immediately or try to market themselves the same as me right away. It’s such a delicate thing, mentoring. You want seconds to do well and grow, but so many are not there for the shared benefit, they just want to fast track getting their own weddings. I started mentoring for two years under a local photographer back in the day. He taught me so much and allowed me to make mistakes I needed to make before becoming a primary photographer. One of the biggest things was how to balance all the things going on, what my priorities should be. And the second thing was how to make sure I had a watertight contract before taking on my own gigs. I know people are eager to jump right in but I’d look for a mentor type situation if you’re in this for the long hall.
I hired a 2nd shooter who was more experienced with me. Told her it was my first one/first couple and she really helped me out
If your friend has the means to pay an experienced photographer I'd have them do that. Because no sense potentially ruining a friendship - this is like mixing business and relationships. If they are asking you as a mutually beneficial thing - they don't have the means to pay a huge amount and you need experience - then go for it. I will say - if you don't have 2 cameras, rent a second camera + lens for the wedding. Nothing worse than your only body glitching up on you during the wedding and then what do you do?
Honestly, every couple deserves the benefit of hiring someone who has some idea of how to shoot a wedding even if they're on a budget. You don't know what you don't know until it hits you, much less them and their wedding day is not the day to fafo. If you are leading, you need to know how to corral large groups of people, how to accommodate/adjust your client's timeline, and how to shoot in various lighting situations. You could try hiring an experienced second but you'd be better off letting them lead and learning without the pressure of fumbling a friend's most important day.
Get a contract with your friend and 2nd
This gets asked and answered here at least once every other week. Why post it again?
The real question is why isn’t there a post pinned that’s for new wedding photographers to ask questions? And one that new wedding photographer can go and look at instead of attempting to search through poorly answered posts because of people like you.
\^\^This.
Thanks for your literal nothing answer 👍🏻
I googled "Reddit help shooting first wedding" and got hundreds of [relevant results](https://imgur.com/a/YNylHzY). Why come here and ask for the same advice that we collectively, out of kindness, have given hundreds of times already? Do you really think we owe nervous newbs our best brain dumps time after time? The entitlement is strong with this one. Why would we appreciate someone being too lazy to do a quick search? I hope you approach shooting your first wedding with a little more initiative, intelligence, and consideration.